Drivers of water reform
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
The role of COAG is to initiate, develop and monitor the implementation of policy reforms that are of national significance and which require cooperative action by Australian governments (for example, water reform.)
The National Water Initiative
The National Water Initiative (NWI), agreed in 2004 by the Council of Australian Governments, is the national blueprint for water reform. Water for the Future advances the implementation of the NWI.
The NWI is a shared commitment by governments to increase the efficiency of Australia's water use, leading to greater certainty for investment and productivity, for rural and urban communities, and for the environment.
Under the NWI, governments have made commitments to:
- prepare water plans with provision for the environment
- deal with over-allocated or stressed water systems
- introduce registers of water rights and standards for water accounting
- expand the trade in water
- improve pricing for water storage and delivery
- meet and manage urban water demands
Ministerial Councils
Over 40 Commonwealth-State Ministerial Councils and fora facilitate consultation and cooperation between the Australian Government and state and territory governments in specific policy areas.
Responsible ministers from each government participate in the councils. Ministerial Councils would meet only once or twice a year, although they may regularly settle issues by correspondence.
Ministerial councils that address water resource management issues include:
- Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council - This council has a policy, decision-making and advisory role in water resource management in the MDB.
- Natural Resources Management Council - This Council is a forum for consultation, coordination and, where appropriate, integration of action by governments on natural resource management issues.
- Environmental Protection and Heritage Council - This council addresses broad national policy issues relating to environmental protection, particularly in regard to air, water, and waste matters
- Ministerial Councils - What are they?
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